Every NFL Team's Most Important Defensive Player

If the old saying “defense wins championships” holds true, then the players on this list should be invaluable to their respective teams.

When it comes to evaluating which player is most important to his team’s defense, one must consider a variety of factors. Does his skill set fit a need? Does his style fit the system? Where does he rank in the locker room? Is he a leader? Is he a one-year wonder, or is he established?

Don’t forget that each team’s strengths and weaknesses are unique, and that all evaluations are skewed to fit team needs with regard to its current situation.

Chicago Bears: Julius Peppers

Julius Peppers is arguably the most athletic defensive end the NFL has ever seen.

At 6’7”, 287 pounds, the 10-year veteran still has the agility and fluidity to chase down elite escape artists like Michael Vick and Cam Newton.

The North Carolina product has missed only six games during his entire career and has played in all 32 contests during his two-year stint with the Chicago Bears.

Peppers has collected a total of 100 sacks and forced 36 fumbles during his NFL tenure. So when he gets his hands on the quarterback, there’s a good chance that the signal-caller is going to drop the ball.

Although he was constantly double-teamed in 2011, Peppers still collected 11 sacks.

His domination is what afforded teammates Israel Idonije and Henry Melton easier paths to the quarterback.

Idonije and Melton finished last season as the Bears’ second- and third-best pass-rushers, yet they only totaled one more sack than Chicago’s most important defender.

Denver Broncos: Champ Bailey

With Brian Dawkins' recent retirement, the Denver Broncos will need a veteran presence on a relatively young defense to command respect with reputation and play.

Champ Bailey will be entering his 14th season, yet he remains one of the NFL’s premier cover corners.

Since entering the league with tremendous athleticism, the future Hall of Famer has evolved his game. No longer does he rely on his speed or long arms to defend passes, but rather his knowledge and past experiences.

Although he only played in 13 games last year, Bailey still tied for the team lead in pass deflections and interceptions.

His ability to shut down receivers is the reason why Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller have been able to enjoy so much success.

If the Broncos hope to generate a consistent pass rush, look for Bailey to factor into the equation.

Miami Dolphins: Cameron Wake

Fans tend to forget that the ex-Canadian Football League star is already 30 years old but only three seasons deep into his NFL career.

Ever since Cameron Wake joined the Miami Dolphins in 2009, he’s been a disruptive force coming off the edge.

He carries a chip on his shoulder and an extremely quick first step onto the field with him.

Wake managed to collect 5.5 sacks during his first season with the Dolphins as a situational pass-rusher. Ever since, he has earned himself a starting role and has led the team in quarterback takedowns for consecutive years.

He has a motor that never stops and sets the tone extremely well for the rest of the defense.

Minnesota Vikings: Jared Allen

It’s not just that Jared Allen has collected 62 sacks in the past four seasons without missing a game, but rather the fact that those 62 stops have resulted in 394 yards.

He can run around you or simply right through you.

His ability to reach the quarterback has single-handedly helped the Minnesota Vikings win ballgames in today’s pass-happy NFL.

And while some defensive ends make their living as a pass-rushing specialist, you'd better not consider Allen in the same group.

The four-time All-Pro is extremely disciplined against the run as well and has an uncanny nose for the ball. In the past two seasons, Allen has recorded three interceptions to go along with 126 tackles—making him a multidimensional weapon on the edge.

New England Patriots: Vince Wilfork

The New England Patriots defense revolves completely around Vince Wilfork and his disruptive play in the middle.

Thanks to his ability to draw consistent double-teams, Andre Carter and Mark Anderson both enjoyed double-digit-sack seasons in 2011.

Carter is currently a free agent, while Anderson has taken his talents to Buffalo.

With half of last season’s total sack production missing, the Patriots will need Wilfork to play with more aggression and consistency.

The nose tackle has tremendous strength and routinely bullies centers off the point of attack. Once he gets into the backfield, his presence alone causes opposing running backs to scatter to the edges and into the arms of Jerod Mayo and Rob Ninkovich.

New Orleans Saints: Curtis Lofton

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

It’s likely that the New Orleans Saints will play the entire season without starting middle linebacker and team captain Jonathan Vilma.

When you add in the fact that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is entering his first season with the team and will be without head coach Sean Payton, fans should begin to question the validity of the Saints defense.

Luckily for the Saints, they’ve used the offseason to sign Curtis Lofton.

Not only did Lofton come from their divisional rivals, but he is also an exceptional tackler.

The fifth-year pro will be expected to expand his game and replace Vilma as the defensive play-caller while becoming a three-down linebacker.

If Lofton is unable to bring leadership and stability to a rocky organization, look for New Orleans to be supplanted as NFC South champions.

New York Giants: Mathias Kiwanuka

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Even with a stacked defensive front, Mathias Kiwanuka is the one New York Giant who stands tall.

As the team entered the 2011 season with a trio of stud pass-rushers that included Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul, Kiwanuka was more than willing to make the switch to outside linebacker.

Along with his 84 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 12 run stuffs, Kiwanuka brought versatility and veteran leadership to Tom Coughlin’s defense.

The Boston College product will continue his role as a stand-up player in 2012 but is still talented enough to generate pressure from the outside.

Now with one year of playing experience and a full offseason to learn his new position, Kiwanuka is guaranteed to build upon his previous season’s successes.

San Diego Chargers: Eric Weddle

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Just because Eric Weddle has established himself as one of the best run-support safeties in the league doesn’t meant he won’t receive vitriol from San Diego fans if he can’t replicate last season’s interception numbers.

Although he tied for the league lead with seven interceptions in 2011, Weddle has been known to be notoriously bad at catching the ball.

The highest-paid safety in NFL history will have to shed this label while the Chargers develop rookie Melvin Ingram into a reliable pass-rusher.

If his play drops off even one bit, expect the Chargers pass defense to be significantly worse in 2012.

Seattle Seahawks: Bobby Wagner

The Seattle Seahawks secondary finished the 2011 campaign ranked as the 11th-best unit and is comprised of a core of young talented players.

This makes it extremely difficult to justify the selection of just one player from that group for the honor of most important defender.

While Seattle selected Bruce Irvin in the first round to fill the role of a much-needed pass-rusher, it is second-round pick Bobby Wagner who will play a larger role in 2012.

Thanks to the departure of David Hawthorne, Wagner will begin the season as the team’s starting middle linebacker, which gives the 21-year-old a huge burden to shoulder as he enters training camp and gets acclimated to the pro game.

Not only will the Utah State product be responsible for relaying play calls from the sidelines, but he will also be the one who puts his teammates in the proper alignment.

If Wagner is unable to adapt quickly, expect the Seahawks to miss the playoffs for a second straight year.